Valve



De.21,194s. R H LEWZEL 2,456,965

VALVE v Filed Dec. 5, 1944 2 sheets-sheet 1 /O .I l

WITNESSESI I INVENTOR W gymon'a/e//ze/ ATTORNEY Dec. 21, 1948. v R, HLEn-ZEL 2,456,965

VALVE Filed Deo. 5, 1944` 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNEssEs; I v INVENTOR @m AWPatented Dec. 21, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT orFICEv VALVE Raymond H.Leitzel, Forestliills, Pa., assigner to.

Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East. Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporationlof Pennsylvania- Application December 5, 1944,4 Serial No.,566,'3"25l(Cl. 20d-148),

5 Claims. 1

" -This invention relates to circuit breaker apparatus, and moreparticularly to a blast valve mechanism and operating means therefor fora iluidv pressure operated circuit breaker oi the type in which a blastof compressed gas is employed for arc extinguishing purposes.

A form of fluid pressure operated circuit breaker that has beensuccessfully employed under modern service conditions comprises areservoir adapted to be charged with compressed air or other gas, amulti-pole arc extinguishing equipment supported above the reservoir andincluding suitable movable contact elements, fluid pressure operatingmeans for opening and closing the circuit breaker, and a plurality ofgas blast valve mechanisms interposed between the reservoir a-nd thearcv extinguishing apparatus, the blast valve mechanisms beingsimultaneously responsivel to movement of the operating mechanismforcontrolling the flow of compressed air from the reservoir ierextinguishing the arcs drawn in the sepa-v rate pole units. Because ofthe-fact thatthe'bl'ast lvalve mechanism for each pole of such a circuitbreaker equipment is preferably adapted toform part of the supportingstructure of the completed assembly, it is desirable to devise theindividual blastvalve devices and the operatingy mechanisms thereof insuch a manner a-s to render the various elements readily accessible,andto facilitate re- 'movlal of such parts of any blast valve device asmay be necessary for inspection or repairs, with'- out dismantling or inany way interfering with the supporting structure of the circuitbreaker. It is also desirable toi provide av blast Val-Ve assemblyhaving a minimum number of' relatively simple operating parts that canlbe manufactured and assembled at low cost, and which mayv be maintainedthrough a long service life without the requirement of unduly frequentinspection, service and repair.

Itis anobject of my invention to provide. an improved gas blast Valveapparatus for a circuit breaker ofthe above class and incorporating thedesirable features just mentioned.

Another object of my'invention is the provision of a blast valveassemblyy for a circuit breaker comprising a casing adapted to bepermanently -built into the circuit breaker supporting struc'- ture, aValve body section removably mounted in the casing, and a blast valveandoperating mechanism therefor operatively supported by thevalve bodysection, the entire-body section and valve mechanism being4 removablefrom. thefcasing as a unit.

A further object. of my invention, ienne prova sion of an irr-rproveciblast valve mechanism' for a multi-pole circuit breaker including`actuating lever means for controlling operation of the blast valve in`accordance with operation of a-cam car Tied` by the main operating shaftof the circuit break-er', andI- means for adjusting the cam tokisure`operation of' the associated blast valve with rela-tion'- to operationof the other"blast` valve mechanisms of the circuit breaker.

Other objects andy advantages of the invention will4 appear in thefollowing more detailed'description thereof. taken iin'- connection withvthe accompanying drawings, inl which:

Figurer 1 is an elevational view, partly in'y secticn, ci one end ofAafmultbpole circuit' breaker o1 the iiuid pressure operated gas blast'type in which eachl pole4 unit, one of' which is illustrated; lia'sl ablastvalve assembly constructed in` accordance `ith' myv invention'.

Fig. 2A is' an enlargedi detailsectional' View of the blast valvemechanism shown in Fig; 12,' and Fig. 3 is an end'y ViewA of thel valve.operating mechanism i taken substantiallyv along: the line III-H1 ofFis. 2a i As shown` inA Fig. 11 of the drawings, al circuit break-erwithy which my improvedk blast 'valve mechanism is adapted toiboemployed may comprise' a base l0, a compressed air-reservoir" M; sup.portedl thereon and lia-ving` a; pluralityl of boiting flanges M, oneachof which isi mounted ai blast valve casing |53 that may be bolted' orotherwise secured thereto. On: each blast valve. casing. ITS is mounteda' substantiallyV vertically disposed blast conduitl I4 ofAinsulatingmaterial, at the upper endA of` whichL is] supported any -arclextinguishingfstructuref- |251. In addition toftiie support afforded' bythe several' conduits- Iill, the arc exftin'guishin'g structures t5 arefurther supported on. a framework includingr a plurality of insulatingmembers I6i and bracket portions VlV projecting frcmlthe: reservoirIfl.. Thearc extinguishing structure |451 isl shown in fragmentary:forminthe drawings, but willi be understood to carry' a; suitableterminary element' 20 for the corresponding pole of the circuitbreaker,to which isconnected' a stationary contact element 21:. Journall'e'd onpinsV 23'; carried* byI the' frame sections 2E of there spe'ctiveA pole:unitsf are movablev contacty elements 25, each ofA which is ot curvedformation and adapted for movement into and out ot eng-agei-4 ment withthe corresponding stationaryv contact elements 2 I. ot therespectivelpole units.. A. suit@ able conductor and terminal member 264is con'- ne'cte'd toeach ot thecontact,elements 25 tocomplete a circuitwhich, when the breaker contacts' 3 are in circuit closed position, thusextends from the terminal through the contact elements 2| and to theterminal 26.

For operating the several movable contact elements, there is provided asingle iluid pressure responsive mechanism 29 comprising a cylinder 30in which is mounted a suitable piston, not shown, that is operativelyconnected through the medium of a piston rod 3I and links 32 to a crankarm 33 carried by a shaft 34. The shaft 34 is suitably journalled onbracket members 35 secured to the reservoir II, and carries a pluralityof upwardly extending lever or crank portions 31, each of the leverportions being aligned with one ot the movable contact elements 25 andoperatively connected thereto by means of an operating rod 39 formed ofinsulating material. Suitable means, not shown, is provided forinitiating operation of the fluid pressure responsive mechanism 29.

Each of the blast valve casing sections I3 is adapted to be fitted witha suitable blast valve assembly which may be more readily understood byreference to Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. The casing I3 has formedtherein an inlet passage 40 which communicates with the reservoir II,and a discharge passage 4I communicating with the blast conduit I4, thelower end of which is adapted to rest on a bevelled surface 44 formed onthe upper end of the casing. For securing the lower end of the conduitI4 in place, there may be provided a split ring 45 which is held inengagement with the blast conduit by means of an annular element 46 thatis, in turn, secured in place by means of a plurality of bolts 41 havingscrew-threaded connection with the upper end of the casing I3. Thecasing I3 also has formed therein a bore 5D which is inclined at anangle with respect to the vertical axis of the casing, as shown in Fig.2, and into which is snugly tted a valve body section 5I. Suitablemeans, such as bolts 52 indicated in Fig. 3, may be provided forsecuring the valve body section 5I to the casing I3. The body section 5Iis provided with a passageway 4Ia which registers with the dischargepassage 4I of casing I3 when the two parts are assembled. An annularvalve seat element 54 is interposed between the lower end of the valvebody section 5I and a flange 55 formed on the interior surface of thecasing I3, a suitable gasket 56 being provided for insuring a leak-tightjoint. Disposed in the inlet passage 4l! is a blast Valve element 51which is adapted to engage a valve seat 58 formed on the seat member 54for controlling rlow of compressed gas from the reservoir II through thepassage 4I to the blast conduit I4. The valve element 51 is carried on aplunger 6U which is slidably mounted in a suitable bore extendingthrough the body section 5I, the outer end 'of the plunger having screwthreaded connection with a collar member 63 which is also slidablymounted with respect to the body section, A coil spring 64 is interposed4between the collar 63 and a suitable wall on the body section forurging the valve element 51 upwardly and into seating engagement withthe seat 58. An adjustable member 66 is secured to the outer end of theplunger 60. As may best be seen in Fig. 3, the adjustable member 66 issuitably bifurcated to provide legs 61 having threaded openings throughwhich is screwed a bolt 68 to enable tightening ofthe element 66 intoits proper position on the plunger.

It'will be understood that the valve element 51 and other associatedelements of the apparatus, including the plunger 60, are operativelyaligned with the corresponding crank arm 31 carried by the operatingshaft 34 of the circuit breaker. According to the invention, each crankarm 3l' is equipped with an adjustable cam member 'IU which is securedthereto by means of a pair of bolts 1i tted into suitable slots (notshown) formed in the crank arm. The engaging surfaces of the cam member10 and of the crank arm 31 are preferably provided with interlockingserrations, not shown in the drawings, to insure a rigid connection ofthe cam to the associated arm. Also, carried on the cam member 10 is alaterally7 projecting pin 13 which, for a purpose hereinafter explained,is disposed adjacent a cam surface 14 formed on the cam member.

On the outer end of the body section 5I are formed a pair of lugs 15having suitable apertures for receiving a transversely disposed pin 1Bon which are pivotally mounted the parallel intermediate legs of abifurcated lever 18, the upper end of which, as viewed in Fig. 2, isalso provided, with parallel portions 18a which are adapted to straddlethe element 66. The parallel portions 18a carry a transversely disposedpin 80, on which is journalled a roller 8| that is engageable with theelement 66 carried by the plunger. The parallel leg portions of thelever 18 adjacent and below the pin 16, as viewed in Fig. 2, eachterminate in a wing portion 18e in which is provided a screw-threadedbore for receiving a stop bolt 82. The stop bolts 82 are adapted foradjustnient to permit engagement thereof with a surface 85 provided onthe body section 5I, to limit counterclockwise rotation of the lever 18about the pin 16. The lever 18 substantially constitutes a bell cranklever and in addition to the parallel ends 18a is provided with parallelends 15b, which extend outwardly and carry a transversely disposed pin85 on which is pivotally mounted a second lever or pawl element 86.

The pawl element 86 has an end portion 36a adapted for engagement withthe adjacent face of the lever 18, intermediate the pins 1G and I0.under the force exerted by a coil spring B8 which is interposed betweena pin 89 secured to the lever 18 and a guide stem 90 pivotally connectedto the pawl 86 by means of a pin 9|. As viewed in Fig. 2 of thedrawings, it will be seen that the spring 88 is thus adapted to urgepawl 86 toward its normal position and in a clockwise direction withrespect to the pin 85 pivoting the pawl element to the bell crank lever18. The end of the lever 86 opposite the end 85a is bifurcated to form apair of legs 8G11, which are adapted to straddle a roller 93 joui-nailedon a pin 94. The roller 93 is adapted for engagement with the camsurface 14 of the cam element 10 during operation of the circuitbreaker, as hereinafter explained. Also formed on the legs 86D are apair of angularly disposed bearing surfaces 95 and 96 with which the pin13 carried by the cam element is adapted to engage during operation ofthe mechanism.

In Figs. l and 2 of the drawings, the operating parts of the circuitbreaker are illustrated as disposed in contact closed position, with theblast valve element 51 held in seated position under the force exertedby the spring 64 and by the pressure of air in the reservoir II. Whenthe usual circuit breaker control system is rendered operative to effectsupply of air from the reservoir II to the piston within the cylinder 30to effect a circuit opening operation of the circuit breaker, the pistonrod 3I is moved downwardly and through the medium of the link elements32 sananetthe entire mechanism for inspection and renewal of partswithout in any way interfering with the circuit breaker structure as awhole. Thus by removing the bolts 52 (see Fig. 3), the body section 6I,together with the valve element 51 and the actuating elements B6 and 1B,may be withdrawn from the casing I3 as a unit, it being understood, ofcourse, that the crank arm 31 will first be disconnectedly moved out ofthe way. In removing the valve assembly, the casing I3 need not bedisturbed. With the valve assembly thus free of the casing, the seatelement 54 may be renewed or reconditioned if desired, and the otherelements similarly serviced, and after being reassembled, the unit canreadily be reinstalled in the casing to condition the circuit breakerfor further operation. It will be noted that the advantages inherent inthe construction of the blast valve assembly in accordance with myinvention are attained with a minimum number `of easily adjusted parts,which although designed to provide adequate strength and endurance undersevere operating conditions may nevertheless be manufactured andassembled at moderate cost.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a circuit breaker of the gas blast type having an operatingmechanism including a rotary member movable during contact opening andcontact closing operations of the circuit breaker, a blast valveassemblage therefor comprising a casing structure having uid inlet anddischarge passages, normally closed valve means operatively mounted insaid casing structure for controlling communication from said inletpassage to said discharge passage, a cam member adjustably mounted onsaid rotary member, a bell crank lever journalled on said casingstructure and having one end operatively associated with said valvemeans, adjusting means associated with said valve means and saidbell-crank lever for determining the amount of opening movement of saidvalve means, a pawl member operatively connected to the other end ofsaid bell crank for engagement by said adjustable cam member, said pawlmember being interlocked with said bell crank for actuating said valvemeans in response to movement of said cam member during a normal openingoperation of the circuit rotary member to determine the time the valvewill open during a normal opening operation and also during a reopeningoperation.

2. In a circuit breaker of the gas blast rtypev having an operatingmechanism including a rotary member movable during contact opening andcontact closing operations of the circuit breaker, a blast valveassemblage therefor comprising a casing structure having fluid inlet anddischarge passages, normally closed valve means operatively mounted insaid casing for controlling communication from said inlet passage tosaid 8 discharge passage, retractile lever means operatively connectedto said valve means, said lever means having an operative position forcooperation with said rotary means to actuate said valve means during anormal contact opening operation of the circuit breaker, meanspermitting yielding of said lever means to a retracted position toprevent operation of said valve means by said rotary member duringcontact closing operation, means for rendering said lever meansoperative in the retracted position to actuate said valve means inresponse to a reopening operation of the circuit breaker from apartially closed position, and means for adjusting the last mentionedmeans and said rotary means for coordinating operation of said valvemeans with operation of theother elements of said circuit breaker.

3. In a circuit breaker of the gas blast type having an operatingmechanism comprising a rotary member movable during contact opening andcontact closing operations of the circuit breaker, a blast valveassemblage for said circuit breaker comprising a casing structure havingfluid inlet and discharge passages, normally closed valve means mountedin said casing structure for controlling communication from said inletpassage to said discharge passage, a bell crank pivotally mounted onsaid casing structure, means on one arm of said bell crank engageablewith said valve means to open said valve means, a lever pivotallymounted on the other arm of said bell crank for unitary movementtherewith in one direction, spring means normally biasing one end ofsaid lever into engagement with said one arm of said bell crank, a camcarried by said rotary member for engaging the other end of said leverand actuating said lever and said bell crank in one direction to effectopening of said valve means, adjusting means for adjusting said camrelative to said rotary member to vary the time said valve means will beopening during a contact opening operation, and adjusting means forvarying the extent of opening movement of said valve means.

4. In a circuit interrupter of the gas blast type having an operatingmechanism including a rotary member movable during contact opening andcontact closing operations of said circuit breaker, a blast valveassemblage therefore comprising a casing structure having fluid inletand discharge passages, a valve carrier body removably mounted in saidcasing structure, a normally closed valve means operatively mounted insaid carrier body for controlling communication from said inlet passageto said discharge passage, retractile lever means pivotally mounted onsaid valve carrier body and operatively connected to said valve means,said lever means having an operative position for cooperating with saidrotary means to actuate said valve means during normal contact openingoperation of said circuit breaker, means permitting yielding of saidlever means to a retracted position to prevent operation of said valvemeans by said rotary member during contact closing operation, means forrendering said lever means operative in the retracted position toactuate said valve means in response to reopening operation of thecircuit breaker from a partially closed position, adjusting meanscooperating with said lever means and with said valve carrier body forvarying the position of said lever means relative to said valve means,and means ior` adjusting said rotary means for coordinating operation ofsaid valve means with the operation of the other elements of the circuitbreaker.

5. In a circuit interrupter of the gas blast type having an operatingmechanism comprising a rotary member movable during contact opening andcontact closing operations of the circuit interrupter, a blast valveassemblage for said circuit interrupter comprising a casing structurehaving fluid inlet and discharge passages, a valve carrier removablymounted in said casing structure, normally closed valve means mounted insaid carrier for controlling communication from said inlet passage tosaid discharge passage, a bell crank pivotally mounted on said valvecarrier, means on one arm of said bell crank engageable with said valvemeans to open said valve means, a, lever pivotally mounted on the otherarm of said bell crank for unitary movement therewith in one direction,spring means normally biasing one end of said lever into engagement withsaid one arm of said bell crank, a cam carried by said rotary member forengaging the other end of said lever to actuate said lever and said bellcrank in 10 one direction to effect opening of said valve means,adjusting means for adjusting said cam relative to said rotary member tovary the time said valve means will be opened during a contact openingoperation, and adjusting means c0- operating with said bell crank andwith said valve carrier for adjusting the position of said bell crankrelative to said valve means.

RAYMOND H. LEITZEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,218,797 Linde et al. Oct. 22,1940 2,270,351 Schulte Jan. 20, 1942 2,282,154 Bakken May 5, 19422,310,779 Hall et al. Feb. 9, 1943 2,338,101 Ellenwood Jan. 4, 19442,353,453 Gayer et al July 11, 1944

